Sprocket-chain



No. 608,530. Patented Aug. 2, 1898.

H. E. ST'AHL.

SPROCKET CHAIN.

(Application filed Feb. 27, 1897.)

(No Mpdel.)

i\ivitness'es. 04/ G lgLi/ezgwr.

Attorney.

chain.

UNITED STATES PATENT BEIGE.

HARRY ERNEST STAHL, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY.

SPROCKET=CHA|N.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 608,530, dated August2, 1898. Application filed February 27, 1897. Serial No. 625,295. (Nomodel.)

\ To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY ERNEST STAHL, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Trenton, in the county of Mercer and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSprocketChains; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing hadto the accompanying drawings, and to letters of referencemarked thereon, which form a part'of this specification.

Figure 1 is aside elevation of a portion of a sprocketchain embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspectiveView of a shorter Section of the Fig. l is an enlarged detail view inperspective of one of the improved latches. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are detailviews illustrating modified forms of the latch and the manner oftheir'application to the links of the chain. Fig. 8'shows detail viewsofthe connectingpins adapted to receive the said latches.

This invention is designed to provide certain new and usefulimprovements in sprocket-chains of the character described and claimedin the patent to H. E. Stahl and F.T. Coryell, dated March 9, 1897, No.578,661, and it relates more particularly to the latch devices which areemployed for the purpose of securing in place the connecting-pins andremovable side bars of the links The invention consists in a latchdevice of this character which possesses certain novel features of.construction, all as hereinafter described, and pointed out in theappended claims.

Referring to the drawings, the letter A designates the side bars of thelinks, B the connecting pins or journals, and G the connect-- ing strapsor blocks which form intermediate links. These partsare constructed andcombined in the manner described in said patent, each of the said pinshaving a head b at one end and a surrounding groove or depression 1)near its opposite end, adjacent pins being inserted from opposite sidesof the chain.

D designates my improved latch, which I have illustrated in threeslightly-different forms. It consists in a small piece of thin metal,preferably spring-steel, and has at one end an open slot d, which isdesigned to engage the grooved end of one of the pins of each link, andat its opposite end a'closed slot d, which is designed to engage thehead of the other pin of the same link. In the form shown in Fig. 4 thisclosed slot has a central longitudinal arm or bar 61, which is designedto engage a diametric groove b in the end or head of the pin. Fig. 6shows a similar form of latch with the exception that the arm or bar dextends transversely of the slot instead of longitudinally. Fig; 8 showsa third form, which is the same as that last described except that theportion of the latch in front of the arm or hard is cut off. In allthese forms this arm or bar is reinforced by the marginal or Strapportion d, which extends entirely or partially around the head of thepin, and thereby greatly strengthens this part of the latch. Two ofthese latches are applied to each link, one to the outside of each ofthe latch-bars and in reverse positions. That is to say, the open slotof one latch and the closed slot of the opposite latch engage oppositeend portions of the same pin. In this manner both pins are lockedagainst endwise movement, and both are likewise secured against rotarymovement in the side bars A in accordance with their natural tendency,this being an important feature.

The latches are preferably so made that they have a natural tendency ortension such as to cause them to hug or clasp the link-bars tightly.They may, however, be readily removed without the use of special tools,and any link or any part thereof can be easily taken out or replaced.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The herein-described latch or key for use on sprocket-chains for thepurpose described, and comprising an elongated thin metallic plate ofspring character and formed with a reduced central portion and with endenlargements, one of said enlargements having therein an open slot, andthe other of said enlargements having therein a closed slot with an armor bar extending diametrically across it, said slot and bar beingadapted to engage the pro jeeting end portion of a chain pin or rivet ofcomplementary form, substantially as specified.

2. A locking device for use on sprocketeha-ins, consisting of a plate ofthin metal having an opening whereby it may be connected with astud andan opening adapted to receive the head of another stud, with :1,

bar extending across the opening, substantialiy as speeified. 10

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY ERNEST STAI'IL. \Vi tnesses:

MARY E. SMITH, Horn V. Wm'rn.

